Tailstock



Patented Dec. 11, 1923.

JERRY i. LA nUcEE, or HARTFORD, CONNECTICT, AssIeNoE To PRATT e WHITNEY,

' Lawa PATENT Prier.

COMPANY, or NEWYOEK, N. Y., A CORPORATION or NEW JEEsEY.

TAILSTOCK. y

VApplication led Apri1'21, 1921. Serial N o. 463,274.

To all whom it may concern.: Y

Be it knownk that I, JERRY J. LA DUCER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tailstocks,

of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tailstocks and particularly to amultiple-spindle tailstoc-k provided with means for-simultaneously operating the several spindles vand preferably the clamping means therefor. In the ordinary form of single spindle tailstock, the spindle is adapted tobe clamped and unclamped within its bearing in the tailstock. However, in a tailstock provided with a plurality of spindles such clamping and lun-k clamping operations would be tedious and involve considerable time in changing the work. The present invention accordingly provides means for simultaneously. moving all the spindles against the work, preferably with an equal pressure, and further means controlled preferably by asingleloperating member for simultaneously eecting the clamping and unclamping of all the spindles within thetailstock. Further objects and details of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

Referring to the figures of the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved tailstock showing certain operating parts thereof in section and other parts in dash lines.-

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Y

Fig. 4 is a Yfragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4 4 ofF ig. 1 and show-l ing the tailstock locking latch and a portion of its operating means.

Referring more specifically to the draw-l ing, 1 indicates the table of a milling machine on rwhich the tailstock is adapted to be mounted, locating pieces 2 of the tailstock base 3 fitting within one of the T-slots of the machine table. the base 3, member 4 slidably mounted on the ways 5 of the base and a plurality of spindles 6 mounted within the -member 4. A gib 7 secured to the member 4 by means of bolts 8 and adjustable laterally bymeans partly in section a tubular groove in a. bushing 1 6 pinned to the sh The tailstock comprisesl of screws j9iholds the Vmember f4' on these ways.'

Any convenient means may be provided to move the member 4 on these ways. I have p illustrated this mea-ns as comprising a rack 10 secured to the base 3 by meansrof screws ll'and engaged by a pinionV 12 mounted on l shaft 13 journaled in the member 4. A screw 14 engagesv within an .annular 15 whereby one end of the shaft 13 is supported. The shaft may be rotated by means of a lsquared extension aft at 17 Within the tubular shaft 13 and extending through the 1 bushing 15-is a shaftv18'having a. pinion 19 keyed to the inner end thereof andk engaging rack teeth on a latch 2O providedv for holding thetailstoclr member 4 in its forward worleengaging position, provided with a hole 21 latch engages. A spring 22 normally holds the latch in-its locking position, shown in Figs. 3 and 4'., The tubularshaft 13 isjprovided with an arcuate slot 23 through-which a Vhandle 24 on the shaft 18 extends and by which the shaft18 and the pinion. `19 ma be rotated to withdraw the'latch. i

Each spindleV 6 comprises a. sleeve 25 mounted for a limited 'longitudinal movement within the member 4,'the means controllingv such movement comprising a bolt 25 passing through "a plate 26l secured to the member 4fand through a bushing 27 and a spring 28 within a counterbore 29 at the rear endof the sleeve, the bolt being threaded in the sleeve at 30. Aswill be seen, the spring 2S normally forces thers'pindle forward and such forward movement 0f each spindle is limitedby lthe bolt head 25?l coming into contact with the 'plate 26. 31 indicates work-engaging centers mounted withwithin which .the

in the sleeves 25, and 32 illustrates a memberthe base 3 beingY The complement'al engagl gagement with the spindles by any convenient means; however, I preferably operate the plungers in a clamping direction by an expansion spring 36 surrounding y each plunger and engaging aflange 37 thereon. Each plunger is thereby normally held in a 4closed position againstvits spindle. A shaft 38 is journaled in the member 4; and extends beneath the plungers 33. rlhe portions of the shaft directly between the plungers are formed into drop cams 39 adapted to engage the lower ends of the plungers. lt will be seen that by turning the shaft 38 to the right (Fig. 3) by means of a handle on the squared end at 40 thereof, the cams .39 will raise ,the several plungers out of clamping engagement with the spindles and that a continued rotation of the Vshaft will permit the plungers to drop off the cams into clamping engagement with the spindles. The springs 36 are relatively strong and therefore snap the plungers intoclamping engagement with a hammer blow whereby the spindles are securely and ti htly locked in position.

n operation, the base 3 is secured on the table 1 in the proper position relative to the headstock, this position being such that the springs 28 will be slightly compressed by the pressure of the centers 31 against the work when the member 40 has been moved to its locked position, illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. One end of each piece of work is adapted to be supported by the member 32 which is notched to hold the piece in alignment withthe adjacent center 31. As the member 4 is moved forward by turning the shaft 13, the'cent'ers engage the workY and force the same into the headstock chucks, the springs 28 yielding when 'the work engages the usual stop in the chuck. With the work thus held in the chucks, the cam shaft 38 is turned tothe right (Fig. 3) whereupon the plungers l33 drop off the cams 39 and lock the spindles in work-engaging position. The release of the tailstock and work is effected by operating the shafts 18, 13 and 37 as is believed 'to be obvious from the above description.

1. A tailstock comprising the combination of 'a base, a spindle-supporting member mounted 'on the base, a plurality of workengaging spindles mounted in the member,

a single controlling means for clamping and uncl'amping the spindles relative to the member, and means for bodily moving the member on 'the base longitudinally of the spindles.

2. VA tailstock 'comprising the combination of a base, 'a spindle-supporting member mounted on the base, a plurality of workengaging 'spindles mounted for a limited longitudinal movement in the member, a single controlling means for clamping 'and engaging spindles mounted for a limitedy longitudinal movement in the member, separate means for, clamping each spindle in work-engaging position in the member, a single hand operated means foroperating all the clamping means, and means for; bodily moving the member on the base longitudinally of the spindles;

4. A tailstock of a base, a spindle-supporting member mounted on the base, a plurality of worlo engaging spindles mounted for aflimited longitudinal nio-vement in the member, a locking plunger adapted to engage each comprising the combination spindle to clamp the same in work-engagingr position in the member, cam means for operating the plungers, a. single hand operated means for operating the cam'means, and

means for bodily moving the member on the base longitudinally of the spindles.

5. A tailstock comprising the combinati-on of a base,y a spindle-supporting member mounted on the'base, a plurality of work-V engagingspindles mounted for a limited longitudinal movementin the member, each spindle being provided on its exterior with a clamping surface tapered in an'inward direction rearwardly and upwardly of the spindle, aI locking plunger provided with a complemental clamping surface adapted to engage the clamping surface of each spindle to 'clamp the same invwork-eng'aging position in the member, c am means or operating the plungers, a single hand operated means for operating 'the cam means, and means for bodily moving the member on the base longitudinally of the spindles.

6. A tailstock comprising the combination of a base, A a spindle-supporting member mounted on the base, a plurality of workengaging spindles V'mounted for a limited longitudinal movement 'in Ythe member, a spring engaging each spindle for normally holding the same in a forward work-engag-v ing position, separate means for clamping each spindle in work-engaging position in the member, a single hand operated means for operating all the VVclamping means, and means for bodily moving the member `on the base longitudinally of the spindles.

7.' A tailstock comprising the combination of" av base, a spindle-supporting member mounted on the base, a plurality of work engaging spindles mounted for a limited longitudinal movement in the member, a spring engaging each vspindle for normally holding the same in a forward work-engaging position, adjustable means for limiting the forward movement or" the spindles, separate means for clamping each spindle in Work-engaging position in the member, a single hand operated means for operating all the clamping means, and means for bodily moving the member on the base longitudinally of the spindles.

8. A tailstock comprising the combina-V longitudinal movement in the member, a

spring-pressed locking plunger adapted to normally engage each spindle to clamp the same in Work-engaging position in the member, a cam for releasing the locking engage- Ament of each plunger from its spindle against the action of its spring, a single hand operated means oroperating allthe cams, and means for bodily moving the member on the base longitudinally of the spindles.

l0. A tailstock comprising the oombination of a base, a spindle-supporting member mounted on the base, a plurality of Work-engaging spindles mounted for a limited longitudinal movement in the member, a spring-pressed locking plunger adapted to normally engage each spindle to .clamp the same in Work-engaging position in the mem ber, a drop cam for raising each plunger against the action of its spring freeV from clamping engagement with its spindle, each plunger being adapted to drop from the high portion of its cam into clamping en-l gagement with its spindle, avsingle hand operated means for operating all the cams, and means for bodily moving the member on the base longitudinally of the spindles. Y

l1. A tailstooir comprising the combination of a base, a spindle-supporting member mounted on the base, a plurality of Work engaging spindles mounted for a llimited longitudinal movement in the member, separate means for clamping eaoli spindle in work-engaging position in the member, a

single hand operated means for operating all the clamping means, a raol; and pinion for bodily moving the member on the base longitudinally of the spindles, and means for looking the member in Work-engaging position on the base.

12. A tailstoolr comprising theV combination of a base, a spindle-supporting niember mounted on the base, a plurality of work-engaging spindles mounted fora limited longitudinal movement in the member. separate means for clamping each spindle in Work-engaging position in the member,

a single hand operated means for operating all the clamping means, a raokand pinion for bodily moving the member on the base longitudinally of the spindles, a latoli for looking the member in Work-engaging posif tion on the base, and means exterior of the member for operating the latch. whereof, I hereto aflix my In testimony signature.

c JERRY J. LA nuonn. 

